Japanese Koshu wines imported into UK

Novum Wines has become the first commercial importer of Japanese wines in the UK having taken delivery of two Koshu wines from exporter Chuo Budoshu.

“Koshu wines are perfect for many Asian foods, having great acidity and depth of flavour, but of course they are most at home alongside Sushi and other Japanese cuisine,” says Novum’s wine buyer Steve Daniel.

Koshu is believed to have come to Japan from Turkey via China and the Silk Road. The Koshu vines bear light-purple fruit and produce fresh wines with subtle aromas of citrus and peach. The crisp acidity, relatively low alcohol and delicate characteristics mean Koshu wines are ideally suited to Japanese dishes.

The wines are from Grace Winery, which was started in 1923 in Katsunuma in the Yamanashi district 200km southwest of Tokyo in the shadows of Mount Fuji. They are seen as one of the best exponents of Japan’s unique varietal the Koshu grape.

Grace owns many of the best vineyards in the highest areas such as Hishiyama where they produce the fruit for their Koshu Private Reserve. They are meticulous in their vineyard management and have been researching the DNA of Koshu over the last 12 years to try and discover the original clone.

The two wines available from Novum Wines are: Grace Koshu Kayagatake 2009 RRP £15.49 / trade price list £12.00; and Grace Koshu Hishiyama Private Reserve 2009 RRP £ 18.99 / trade price list £14.68


1 October 2010 - Felicity Murray